Lots of turkey, food giveaways this Thanksgiving in New York City

Maja Lundager Pedersen

Charity is an enduring Thanksgiving tradition and, for many New Yorkers, that means donating thousands of turkeys and other food across the city and state.

Members of the New York National Guard help in distributing more than 3,000 meals to families in need Thanksgiving week through a state partnership with Walmart, PepsiCo and Fresh Direct.Credit: Office of the Governor

Charity is an enduring Thanksgiving tradition and, for New Yorkers, that means donating thousands of turkeys and other food across the city and state.

"As New Yorkers gather with families across New York for Thanksgiving, it is also a time to celebrate the spirit of giving and lend a hand to those less fortunate," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said in a statement Tuesday.

Through partnership with Walmart, PepsiCo and FreshDirect, members of the New York National Guard will assemble and distribute more than 3,000 meals to families in need across the state.

Other organizations participated in food-giving to commemorate the holiday.

City Harvest passed out some 20,000 pounds of fall produce like carrots, potatoes and winter squash, to hungry New Yorkers in the Bronx on Tuesday. The group also distributed 600 pumpkin pies donated by Epicurean Group.

Brooklynites got a helping hand from Borough President Marty Markowitz who, along with volunteers, gave away close to 1,000 turkeys and trimmings to representatives of over a hundred local community groups on Monday. Another 500 turkeys were passed out by Camba's Beyond Hunger Emergency Food Pantry in Brooklyn Tuesday.

In Harlem, the Food Bank For New York City spent Sunday preparing some 1,000 'Thanksgiving to Go' meals for distribution in high-needs communities.